> As for the above hour line formula, maybe the best way to teach the > beginner its solution would be to pick an example latitude and print the > pages of Natural Logrithrimic Functions from a typical trig table that have > the desired values. That way, the beginner could see how to use the tables. <snip> >(a later article could show the beginner how to use a > scientific calculator instead of a printed trig table) > > John Carmichael > http://azstarnet.com/~pappas
Depending on your audience, you may want to skip the trig tables and go straight to the calculator. Out here anyway, kids are required to have and know how to use a trig calculator by 6th or 7th grade. And to think I didn't need one until late in high school... !! Other than that I agree the best way to learn is hands-on. I dusted off and extended my math knowledge by writing a postscript program to print the parts of an astrolabe. I owe many thanks to Jim Morrison for his generous guidance, bits of code, and encouragement in that project! Mike Blackwell
